Leave Her, Johnny

Dave Van Ronk
Oh, times were hard and the wages low,
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
I guess it's time for us to go.
"It's time for us to leave her."
Beware these packet ships, I say.
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
They'll steal your stores and your clothes away.
"It's time for us to leave her."
There's Liverpool Pat with his tarpaulin hat,
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
And Yankee John, the pocket rat.
"It's time for us to leave her."
She would not wear and she would not stay,
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
She shipped great seas both night and day.
"It's time for us to leave her."
Its rotten beef and waverly bread,
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
It was pump or drown, the old man said.
"It's time for us to leave her."
The sails all furled, our work is done,
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
And now ashore we'll take our run.
"It's time for us to leave her."
Oh, what will us poor shellbacks do?
"Leave her, Johnny, leave her."
Our money's gone, more work to do.
"It's time for us to leave her."